OBITUARIES

Robert A. Colilla

Computer Systems Engineer

Robert A. Colilla, 64, a retired computer systems engineer, died of a brain tumor July 27 at his home in Bethesda.

Mr. Colilla retired in 1998 after 15 years on the staff of the Analytic Sciences Corp. He came to the Washington area in the early 1960s, and he worked for several other computer development firms before joining Analytic Sciences.

He was born in West New York, N.J., and graduated from New York University.

He was an amateur composer and a founding member of the Montgomery County Composers Society. His compositions included a modern opera, selections for a string quartet and love songs for piano.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, June Colilla of Bethesda; three children, Susan Colilla Hollenberg of Wilmette, Ill., Jane Colilla Baird of Derwood, and Daniel Colilla of Washington; his mother, Agnes Colilla of Livingston, N.J.; a sister; and two grandchildren.

Margery N. Sturges

Teacher

Margery N. Sturges, 80, who taught at Glen Forest Elementary School in Fairfax County for about 10 years before she retired in 1968, died of congestive heart failure July 27 at Westminster at Lake Ridge. She had Parkinson's disease. She lived in Lake Ridge.

Mrs. Sturges began her teaching career in 1941. She taught in Louisiana and Georgia before moving to the Washington area 42 years ago.

She was born in Lottie, La., and graduated from Louisiana State University.

She accompanied her husband, retired Air Force Col. William R. Sturges, to military posts when he was on active duty. He died in 1993.

Survivors include two sons, David Ray Sturges of Burke and Jeffrey Alan Sturges of Oxnard, Calif.; a brother; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

John B. Jamarik

Master Machinist

John B. Jamarik, 92, a Silver Hill resident who retired in 1966 after 32 years as a master machinist at the Washington Navy Yard, died of congestive heart failure July 27 at the Bradford Oaks Nursing Facility.

Mr. Jamarik, who was born in Pittsburgh, grew up in Hopewell, Va.

He was a member and past financial secretary of Ryland-Epworth Methodist Church in Washington and a member of its Open Door bible class.

Survivors include his wife, Cecil Jamarik of Silver Hill; a son, John C. Jamarik of Houston; a brother, George Jamarik of Hopewell; two sisters, Martha Peters of Fredericksburg and Ruth Board of Hopewell; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Gerald August Deckert

Electrical Engineer

Gerald August Deckert, 46, an electrical engineer and manager with the National Security Agency, collapsed and died, apparently of a heart attack July 28 while bicycling at Rocky Gap State Park near Hagerstown.

He was among 900 bicyclists participating in the Cycling Across Maryland Tour, a five-day event in which bicyclists ride 50 miles a day across the state. Mr. Deckert had ridden in the event every year since suffering a heart attack six years ago.

A resident of Elkridge, he was born in Las Cruces, N.M., and graduated from Washington State University. He had done postgraduate study in electrical engineering at the University of Maryland.

Twenty-four years ago, he moved to this area from the state of Washington and began his career with the National Security Agency. He had traveled extensively around the world in connection with his job.

He was a Boy Scout leader and a stamp collector.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara E. Deckert, and two children, Brian August Deckert and Claire Deckert, all of Elkridge; his parents, August Deckert and Geraldine Deckert, both of New Windsor, Md.; six siblings, Glenn Deckert of Gaithersburg, Gregg Deckert and Gwyn Deckert, both of Damascus, Guy Deckert and Grant Deckert, both of New Windsor, and Gail Deckert of Pullman, Wash.

Rockford N. Hamed

Contracting Officer

Rockford N. Hamed, 78, a retired Navy contracting officer, died of cancer July 29 at IHS Nursing Home in Alexandria.

Mr. Hamed, a resident of Alexandria, was born in Green Bank, W.Va. During the 1930s, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. During World War II, he served in the Army in the China-Burma-India theater of operations. Near the end of the war, he served in the Office of Strategic Services.

He settled in the Washington area after the war and graduated from George Washington University.

During his federal career, he was a compensation and benefits specialist with the Veterans Administration. During the mid-1960s, he began working for the Navy Department. His work included oversight of the acquisition process for major shipbuilding and weapons systems. In 1986, he retired from the Naval Sea Systems Command.

In retirement, Mr. Hamed sold real estate with Mount Vernon Realty and did private consulting on federal acquisitions.

He was a bass and trout fisherman, a Civil War buff and a genealogist.

His wife of 50 years, Dorothy Hope Hamed, died in June and a son, Rockford Jr., died in 1998.

Survivors include two children, Marty Hamed of Clifton and Tony Hamed of Alexandria; a stepdaughter, Rose Neuman of Buchanon, W.Va.; a brother; two sisters; and a granddaughter.

Watson Fenimore

Reporter and Publicist

Watson Fenimore, 90, a former writer and news reporter who retired as a public relations specialist from the Atomic Energy Commission about 20 years ago, died of congestive heart failure July 26 at Suburban Hospital.

Mr. Fenimore, who lived in Garrett Park, was born in Philadelphia and graduated from Colgate University. In 1937, he began his career in journalism with the Philadelphia Enquirer. Later he worked for the International News Service in Philadelphia and Chicago. He came to Washington in the closing days of World War II and covered the Truman White House.

He wrote for Pathfinder and Changing Times magazines and other publications, including Ladies Home Journal. Later he joined the public relations staff of the Atomic Energy Commission.

After retiring from federal service, he continued working until he was 84, editing publications for the Renewable Resources Agency.

His wife of 49 years, Harriet D. Fenimore, died in 1988.

Survivors include two children, Robert Fenimore of Potomac and Patricia F. Bennett of Atlanta; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.